UN SDGs can propel impact investing into the mainstream

UN SDGs can propel impact investing into the mainstream

Impact investing is set to continue to grow, as many investors are interested in making their money work for good, as well as for returns. Research shows directing capital into investments that seek both attractive returns and a measurable positive environmental and societal impact could be a US$1 trillion ($1.3 trillion) business globally by 2020. This is largely driven by Millennials who want to make a difference in the world. Studies by Morgan Stanley have found that 18- to 34-year-olds are twice as likely to invest in a portfolio or individual companies if they seek positive environmental or social impacts.While impact investing is at a relatively nascent stage in Australia and lacks scale, the term impact investing is already a decade old. It was coined by the Rockefeller Institute to acknowledge that government and philanthropic activity could not solve the world’s problems alone and that activity by publicly traded corporations was needed to address the world’s most pressing social and environmental challenges.

Addressing the headwinds

The first obstacle to overcome is the confusion around what impact investing is and what ‘impact’ means. By definition, impact investments are made into companies, organisations and funds with the intention of generating a social and environmental impact alongside a financial return. There is no compromise in either goal.

Because of this, impact investing is not socially responsible investing (SRI) nor is it the integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals into investment processes. These seek to exert influence, rather than changing a specific practice or industry in a measureable way, which impact investing is designed to do from the outset − while also driving financial performance.

Up until now, impact investing has has been largely focused on unlisted markets. Moving forward, it is important that listed companies embrace impact investing if substantially more capital is to be mobilised to make a real difference.This would open many more impact investing opportunities to individual investors who want to support listed companies with business models that address pressing environmental, social and economic challenges, but which can also support wealth generation .

An organisation that simply reduces its carbon footprint or becomes more transparent about its activities would not qualify as an impact investment. A company must seek to address a particular social or environmental concern in a quantifiable way and be shown to be an attractive investment opportunity.